Vapor-cooling system



Jun 14', 1927.

L. v. GRANTIER COOLING SYSTEM Filed April 10. 1926 INVENTOR. LzsL/c V. GRANT/ER.

guufu ATTORNEY.

Patented June 14, 1927. 'v

UNITED STATES PATENT V LESLIE emu Irma, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN, assIGNon r0 ivreconn nAiJrA'roa a v MFG. 00., 0F DETBOI,T, MIGHIGAN, A CORPQRATION OFYMAIKE.

VAPOR-COOLING sYs'rEM.

Application filed April 10, 1926. se1-s'1a0.'101;034.

This invention relatesto a vapor cooling system for internal combustion engines such as are employed on motor vehicles.

' In Patent No; 1,460,360, granted June 26, 1923, to Lester P. Barlow,a cooling system isshown employing a single c rcuit for the cooling medium. -All of the latter must cirdelaying quick warming-up of the motor, which is'particularly desired at any time i and more especially in cold weather. Also in this Barlow system, steam or vapor s generated only under extreme conditions 0t load orservice, with theresult that the temperaturefofthe'cylinder walls is not maintained constantas desired. 7

The objectofmy invention is to prov de asystem having two interconnected circuits, one circuit .to convey vapor from the cylinder jacket to the cooler'and condensate from thelatter, and the other circuit permitting a circulation of cooling liquid through the jacket without passing either through the cooler or the reservoir, thus'allowmg the motor'to warm or heat .up quickly irrespec- ,tive of load. driving, weather or teinperature conditions and remain at a substantially constant high temperature during operation.

, Another object ofvmy invention is to locate the supply tank or reservoir below the cy'lln- 'derjacket and thecooler, so that thejacket and cooler may'drain through the respective circuitsint-o the reservoir when the system is idle and thus prevent any possibility of freezing-up of either the jacket or the cooler. A further object of my invention 1s to make the reservoir of such capacity that it will accommodate sufficientcoolingliquid to take care of the needs of the circuits under all conditions of operation and constitute a reserve'supply to compensate for loss of liquid by leakage or ei-aporation.v

A further object of my invention, is to have the two circuits connected in advance of the pump and leading to a single inlet thereof, so as to assure a constant flow of cooling liquid to thepump and not create air pockets. in the pump, and automatically A further object of my invention to 7 make the inletconduit of the second circuit larger in character than the outlet conduit,

1 so as to offer allow resistance to thefflow culate through the radiator orcooler, thus of cooling liquid throughthe inlet conduit and thus avoid any appreciable rise ofthe Q In the drawing, 1 indicates the cylinder I jacket of the engine; 2 indicates aspace above'the water j acket, permitting steam or vapor to rise from the water or other cooling liquidin the jacket when the temperature of the engine has risen high enough to vaporize the liquid in the jacket: 3 indicates a cooler as in the form of a radiator located in-front of the engine and connected with the space 2 by a'conduit l; 5 indicates a supply reservoir or tank located below the jacket land the cooler 3. and connected with thelower end of the latter through a'connection 6.

7 indicates a pump of any preferredtype and which has a single inlet and an outlet. Conduits 8 and 9 are connected with the inlet and outlets, respectively, of the pump. These conduits extend upwardly from the pump and are connected with the water jacket 1. preferably at different levels, as shown. The conduit 9 opens into lower portion of the jacket, while conduit 8 opens into the upper portion jacket at approximately the normal height of the liquid level in the jacket 1. as indicated by the dotted line 0..

or have an ejector effect on the liquid in the connection 10 due to the velocity of the flow into the pump.

The reservoir or tank 5 has a filler openin 11 normally closed by a cap. he tank ant the lower end of the cooler 3 are vented to the atmosphere through a vent 12 between the lower end of the cooler and the upper portion of the tank, so as to maintain atmospheric pressure in the lower end of the cooler or condenser, and the space above the liquid or water in reservoir.

The system shown and described operates as follows:

The tank or reservoir 5 is filled with liquid to an extent sutficient to supply the needs of the system, and also serve as a suitable reserve. In practice, with an assembly as shown in the drawing, the tank or reservoir would be completely filled to a level indicated by the dotted line Z), the.

jacket at this'time being "free of liquid. The pump 7 being at the lower level of the tank 5 will be flooded and the liquid will stand in the conduits S, and 9 to the level Z).

On starting the motor or engine, the pump 7 will fill the jacket 1 through the conduit 9, drawing water for the purpose from supply reservoir 5, the level in the latter lowering to approximately that indicated by the dotted line c. When the jacket lills to the level a, the liquid in the tank is at that time no further lowered and remains approximately constant at level 0 until steam or vapor is generated in the jacket 1 by the heat of the engine. A continuous circulation of water or liquid to the jacket through conduit 9 causes liquid in the jacket to flow into the upper end of the larger conduit 8, and tall therethrough to the column of water or liquid already therein. This conduit 8, is made sulliciently large in diameter so as to otter a low resistance to the passage of water or liquid therethrough and thus avoid any appreciable rise of the level a in the jacket.

This circulation continues without passing through either the cooler 3 or the reservoir 5, with the result that circulated liquid is not subjected to any appreciable cooling action, and its temperature quickly ant rapidly rises to the boiling point. This allows the motor to warm up quickly and remain at a constant temperature during operation, irrespective of load, speed, or weather conditions. As soon as steam or vapor is given off at the liquid level a in the jacket 1, it rises into the top space 2 and passes there from into the upper end of the cooler 3 where such vapor is condensed as it passes downward through the passages of the cooler. A fan 13 is associated with the cooler, and is preferably operated by the engine, so as to draw currents of air through the cooler to condense the vapor entering into the same.

The condensed vapors flow into chamber or head 14- at the lower end of the cooler, as shown in the drawing. From thence the condensate flows into the tank or reservoir 5 through the connection 0, so as to return to the system and thus allow the cooling liquid to be used over and over again without replenishing except at long intervals.

lVhen the cooling liquid vaporizes. at the top or" jacket and tills the space 2 and the upper part 01 the cooler 3, the level of the liquid in the tank 5 lowers slightly below that indicated by 0, due to the fact that sulficient liquid must be drawn from the reservoir to make up for the initial lillingwith vapor of that portion of the system designed to receive the same.

There is suflicient amount of liquid contained at all times in the reservoir 5 below the level 0 to supply for a considerable period of time the make up water necessary to replenish or compensate for leakage or losses in the system and also to operate as a liquid head for the pump. This avoids the use of checkvalves, thermostats, or other controls as the pump is at all times operatively submerged. The conduits 8 and t) are connected in advance oi the pump T and this connection is disposed below the level 0 so as to be submerged at all times with liquid. The pump has a single inlet 7 so that a single pump may be used with the two couduits.

By having the vent 152 located between the lower end of the cooler 3, and the maximum level Z) of the liquid in the tank 5 as indicated in the drawing, any air in the cooler will be displaced by the lighter steam entering the top of the same.

The system shown and described embodies two circuits. One circuit includes the vapor or steam space 2, the cooler or condenser I) and the tank or reservoir 5. The other circuit includes the jacket 1, pump 7 and conduits 8 and 9. Both circuits join at the inlet 'T- of pump 7 and combine through-couduit 9 to jacket 1, where they separate through chamber and conduit 8. The second circuit forms a by-pass for the first. and thus allows for a quick heating-up ol' the engine on starting and assures a constant temperature therei'or during operation.

The reservoir 5 has a capacity sutiicicnl. to hold all of the liquid required by the system and also a little more for reserve supply. The reservoir 5 is located below the jacket 1 and the cooler 3 and by its connection with both allows the liquid in the cooler and the jacket to drain into the reservoir when the system is idle. The mechanism or" the pump is such that it permits the liquid to slowly drain therethrough, nd thereby allow the engine cylinders to retain heat longerthan should the pump allow for a rapid drain. The liquid at all times stands in the nectionl'with the reservoir 5, thereby preventing any steam or vapor entering the vapor circuit except through the upper end of the cooler or condenser 3. i

. The details shown described may be. variously changed and modifiedwithoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of my invention. Moreover, in referring to the Barlow system, I wish it to be understood that my invention is not limited or restricted in its use to that system, the latter being mentioned forillustrative purposes.

I claim as my invention; 1

l. Ina vaporcooling system for internal combustion engines, the combination with a cylinder jacket and a cooler, of two circuits, one to convey vapor from the jacket to the cooler and condensate from the latter, and the other permitting the circulation of cooling liquid through the jacket, without passing through the cooler, a reservoir below the jacket and connected with both circuits in a manner permitting both the jacket and t cooler to empty into the reservoir when the system is idle, said reservoir being of a size to hold more liquids thanactually required by the system so as to maintain a reserve supply therefor, and a circulating pump in the system. I v

2. In a vapor cooling system for internal combustion engines, the combination with a cylinder jacketand a cooler, of two circults, one to convey vapor from the jacket tothe cooler and condensate from the latter, and the other permitting the circulation of cool ing liquid through the jacket without passing through the cooler, a reservoir located below the jacket and connected with both circuits'in a manner permitting the jacket and cooler to empty into the reservoir when the system is idle, said reservoir being of a size to hold more liquids than actually required by the system so as to maintain a reserve supply therefor, and a circulating pump in the system and having a single inletto receive liquids from both circuits.

3. In a'vapor cooling system for internal combustion engines, the combination with a cylinder jacket and a cooler, of a circulating pump in the system, a reservoir below the cooler and connected therewith, said reservoir being of a: size to hold more liquids than actually required by the system so as L to maintain a reserve supply therefor, and

two circuits, the first for conveying vapor from the jacket tothe cooler and condensate from the latter to the reservoir, and the second circuit permitting the circulation of cooling liquid through the jacket without passing through the cooler, said reservoir being connected with the pump in a manner to supply suflicient liquid to the second cireuit without lowering the liquid level in the reservoir below the operative level of the pump. 7 0 i i a 4. In a vapor cooling system for internal combustion engines, the combination with a cylinder jacket and a cooler, of a reservoir below the cooler and connected therewith, two circuits, the first to convey vapor from the jacket to the cooler and condensate from the latter, and the second circuit permitting circulation of cooling liquidthrough the jacket without passing through either the reservoir or the cooler, said reservoir connected with both circuits in a manner permitting the jacket and cooler to empty into the reservoir when the system is idle, said reservoir being of a size to hold more liquids than actually required by the systemso as to maintain a reserve supply therefor, a circulating pump in the system, and a vent in level of the reservoir and the lower end of the cooler and arranged to vent both the a cooler and the reservoir 5. In a vapor cooling system for internal combustion engines, the combination with a cylinder jacket and a cooler connectedtherewith, of a circulating pump below the jacket and the cooler, a reservoir belowsaid cooler and connected with the cooler and pump, respectively and locatedbetween the same,

said reservoir being of a size to hold more liquids than actually requiredby the system so as to maintain a reserve supply therefor, inlet and outlet conduits for the pump and opening into the jacket, the inlet conduit extending upwardly and being larger than the outlet conduit so as to offer a low resistance to the flow of cooling liquid through the portion of the conduit between the jacket andthe, water level in the conduit above the pump.

6. In an internal combustion engine vapor cooling system opencontinuously to the atmosphere and operating at all times at atmospheric pressure, the combination with a cylinder jacket having a steam space above the same and a cooler having its upper end connected with said space, of a circulating pump located below the cooler andthe jacket, supply and overflow conduits extendthe same, and means connecting the lower end of the cooler with the intake of the pump so that the cooler may drain to the pump.

7 .In a cooling system for internal combustion engines, the combination with a cylinder jacket and a cooler, of a supply reservoir located below the jacket, two circuits, one for conveying vapor from the jacket to the cooler and condensate therefrom, and the other permitting the circulation of cooling liquid through the jacket without passing through either the cooler or the reservoir, a manifold providing a connection between the circuits below the jacket, said reservoir 10 being connected to the circuits through the manifold, and a circulating pump in the system.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I ai'lix my signature, this 2d 15 dayof April, 1926.

L. V. GRANTIER. 

